Low-Calorie Recipes

Rice may be cooked by 3 methods, each of which requires a different proportion of water. These methods are boiling, which requires 12 times as much water as rice ; the Japanese method, which requires 5 times as much; and steaming, which requires 2-1/2 times as much. Whichever of these methods is used, however, it should be remembered that the rice grains, when properly cooked, must be whole and distinct. To give them this form and prevent the rice from having a pasty appearance, this cereal should not be stirred too much in cooking nor should it be cooked too long. 3 Ways To Cook The Perfect Rice [toc heading_levels="3,4,5"] BOILED RICE Boiling is about the simplest way. Properly boiled rice not only forms a valuable dish itself, but is an excellent foundation for other dishes that may be served at any meal . The water in which rice is boiled should not be wasted, as it contains much nutritive material. This water may be utilized in the preparation of soups or sauces, or it m...

Mother and daughter team, Monica and Lee Cudjoe founded Tan Rosie Foods in 2010 and create Caribbean concoctions inspired by family recipes from Carriacou in Grenada. Here they share their top tips for cooking healthy and authentic Caribbean cuisine at home... Top 10 tips for healthy Caribbean cooking [toc heading_levels="3,4,5"] 1. Fire up the barbecue Barbecuing is a very popular cooking method in the Caribbean and is a healthy alternative to frying as you omit most of the oil. Coat your lean meat, skinless chicken or pork in a jerk seasoning or a Caribbean rub for great flavour and barbecue to perfection. Wet weather keeping you indoors? Roast or grill for a similarly healthier result. 2. Make the most of meat with a marinade We love to marinade our food in the Caribbean to make sure it's bursting with flavour. A good tasty marinade will give your food plenty of depth, avoiding the need for added fats like cream and butter for a good taste. For a Caribbean influenced...

Healthy food kids will love It always feels great to watch your child polish off a healthy, home-cooked meal, so we've chosen our favourites for the whole family to enjoy together. Feeding children can be one of the most satisfying but also one of the most stressful parts of parenting – and it's not uncommon to get embroiled in a fearsome stand-off at mealtimes. So, to avoid the meltdowns, we've cooked up some sneaky ideas for giving kids the foods they love, packed full of the nutrients they need, from breakfast to dessert , with help from our nutritionist Kerry Torrens. Healthy food kids will love [toc heading_levels="3,4,5"] Make the best of breakfast It goes without saying, but setting your child up for the day with a healthy breakfast will make you both feel good. Something filling and fibrous should get the digestive system going, keep kids full until lunch and help sustain their concentration and mood . Try serving porridge with a side portion of blueberri...

How to use grains From brown rice to buckwheat - good-for-you grains are now widely available, but how do you put them to good use? Chrissy Freer, author of Supergrains, provides a handy guide to grains and how to use them... How to use grains [toc heading_levels="3,4,5"] 1. Quinoa Flavour characteristics... Mild, nutty, slightly bitter. Goes well with... Extremely versatile. Great with Middle Eastern spices, Mediterranean flavours, fresh herbs, citrus and even Asian flavours. Use in... Salads, pilafs, stuffings for meat or vegetables, soups, stews, porridge and desserts. 2. Amaranth Flavour characteristics... Herbaceous, grassy, sticky. Goes well with... Nuts, honey, chocolate and cinnamon. Mexican flavours such as chilli, paprika and corn. Use in... Porridge, salads, soups and stews (when combined with other grains). 3. Buckwheat Flavour characteristics... Earthy, dark, slightly meaty. Goes well with... Foods that have natural sweetness and/or saltiness such as miso, roast...

How to make healthier bakes Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), shares her tips for creating heart-healthy bakes, so you can have your cake and eat it… Baking doesn’t have to be bad for you, and healthy baking doesn’t have to taste, or look, terrible. Next time you’re in the kitchen, put these tips to the test and see if you can create something delicious and nutritious… [toc heading_levels="3,4,5"] Top tips for making your cakes healthier Often when you use healthier alternatives in recipes, the flavour or texture may differ. Keep an open mind, your tastebuds soon get used to the change and it is worth it when you reap the benefits! Just by making a few simple tweaks, you can make better-for-you bakes. Here are four tips to get you on your way: Start by using unsaturated oils like rapeseed and sunflower instead of saturated fats like butter and coconut. Not only does this lower the amount of saturated fat in your bake, but it gives a...

Top 10 tips for healthy Moroccan cooking - Celebrity chef Jenny Morris hails from South Africa and has recently embarked on a culinary adventure around Morocco for her Food Network series, Jenny Morris cooks Morocco. Here Jenny shares her top tips for keeping your home-cooked Moroccan fare authentic and healthy ... Top 10 tips for healthy Moroccan cooking [toc heading_levels="3,4,5"] 1. Chickpeas Chickpeas are not only a traditional Moroccan ingredient used in multiple dishes but they're also a great source of protein. In my experience the best method to cook them is to pre-soak and when they are swollen and hydrated, gently boil them. Divide the chickpeas into portions and freeze (for future use) before adding to meals.   2. Cumin Introduce cumin into your diet . Its benefits are numerous and varied. Not only does it add amazing flavour but when I travelled around Morocco many of the locals told me about its many health benefits. It is excellent for digestion, acts li...

Junie Kovacs is the founder and owner of creative Thai cookery school, Time For Lime, on the island of Koh Lanta, Thailand. Born in California, Junie built her reputation in Norway and has been teaching and cooking Thai cuisine for 19 years in both Asia and Europe. Here she shares her top tips for keeping your Thai food authentic and healthy ... Top 10 tips for healthy Thai cooking [toc heading_levels="3,4,5"] 1. Use fresh ingredients I believe most homemade food that tastes really special is made from scratch using fresh ingredients - and great Thai food is no exception. Many Thais still today do not own a fridge so will buy fresh produce on a daily basis at one of Thailand's many famous food markets. In the West, not everyone has an Asian shop on their doorstep but simply making the journey to your nearest supplier twice a year will keep you in fresh Thai flavours. Be sure to ask what day their fresh ingredients arrive from Thailand (it's the same day every week)...

Top tips for healthy Indian cooking - Mehernosh Mody is behind the eclectic menu at West London 's La Porte des Indes, which features classic, vegetarian and light lunch menus as well as offering live cooking demonstrations. Here Mehernosh shares his top tips for keeping your Indian dishes authentic and healthy... Top tips for healthy Indian cooking Use oil sparingly... Olive oil has been found to have great health benefits but should be used only for stir-frying and pan-frying, and just a splash is needed. It is not recommended for deep-frying due to the large quantity required. Using non-stick cookware can help you to limit the use of oil when cooking curries.   Cut down on fat... If trying to cut down the fat content of your meal, change the menu and cook Indian dishes and breads that require no frying.   Substitutions for coconut milk... For adding richness to a dish, try using skimmed milk, cashew nut paste or poppy seed paste instead of the regular coconut milk or crea...

Healthy cooking tips from Diabetes UK - A healthy balanced diet is key to managing diabetes. Diabetes UK share their top tips for adapting recipes, planning ahead and packing a healthy lunchbox. Small changes can make a big difference to the nutritional value of your meals. Diabetes UK share their top healthy cooking tips to help you to make healthier choices and reduce the fat in your favourite dishes. Healthy cooking tips from Diabetes UK [toc heading_levels="3,4,5"] 1. Adapt recipes to be healthier Use less salt in cooking – replace salt with spices, herbs and black pepper Trim any excess fat from meat. Use pulses to replace some red meat in dishes Use low-fat or tomato based sauces for curries and pasta dishes.  Or why not try reduced fat c rème fraîche or natural lower-fat yogurt? Choose lower-fat cheese, cream or milk in recipes Try using dried fruit, a fruit purée or sweet-tasting vegetables like carrots to sweeten cakes naturally or reduce sugar in b...

Top 10 tips for healthy Mexican cooking - Thomasina Miers, co-founder and executive chef of award-winning Mexican restaurant chain Wahaca, shares her top tips for keeping your Mexican dishes authentic and healthy... Top 10 tips for healthy Mexican cooking [toc heading_levels="3,4,5"] 1. Char your salsas The secret to a good salsa is to dry-roast the tomatoes, chillies and onion to get maximum flavour. Other than that no fat is needed in the salsa at all so you can ladle on heat, flavour and a touch of sparkle (and vitamins ) to simple, healthy food.   2. Slow-cook fattier, cheaper cuts When you slow-cook the cheap cuts, an amazing flavour comes from the marbled fat running through the joints. But by slow-cooking meat like this, the fat slowly dissolves in the sauce. If you slow-cook a cheap cut one day and allow to cool, you can spoon off excessive fat the next day, whilst also allowing all the flavours to improve overnight making healthier, better tasting food.   3. A litt...